9W to join SkyTeam?
 

Hi all,

According to this article (http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/2620....html?atype=tp) it seems Jet Airways is still deciding whether to join SkyTeam or *A, but as AI is joining *A and Kingfisher Airlines is joining OW later this year, and the Indian government does not want AI and 9W in the same alliance, it looks like 9W has no other choice but to join SkyTeam or remain independent. Any opinions?

I wouldn't be surprised...

IMO if 9W did join SkyTeam, it would fill another hole in the ST network because both India and its vicinity are currently underserved by ST.

9W would be a great addition

One of the best Y experiences I have had.

My opinions 9W will eventually to joins into SkyTeam. Surely Jet Airways can do it to entry the alliance. If they have a approvals from government.

I think ST, 9W, and passengers from both sides would benefit greatly from such a move. It would be good strategically even if there isn't opposition to join *A from the Indian government.

9W has already been newly approved for flying BOM-AMS and BOM-FCO, both ST hubs and likely to get BOM-CDG as well. This makes it either a natural ST partner or a formidable competitor.

This is already great news for KL and AZ fans. If 9W does get BOM-CDG, then this will be a plus for AF fans and the Widgetheads as both DL and AF operate a hub there which will be beneficial for connecting passengers.

Thread Alert
 

This really is more of a SkyTeam discussion rather than a Delta SkyMiles discussion, which is why the new home for this thread is the SkyTeam forum.

Regards,

Canarsie
Co-Moderator, Delta SkyMiles forum

Will be a boon to the tourist and diaspora traffic back to the motherland, but will be meaningless for premium passengers that really want and need the non-stop traffic to DEL and BOM (for which there is already numerous nonstops from ORD and EWR/JFK). For premium passengers flying to other destinations in India that will require a stop anyway, LH seems to have cornered the Indian market. If you are flying to CCU, BLR, MAA or PNQ, it's annoying to arrive into India around midnight, clearing immigration then waiting until 6/7am for the early domestic flights.

AI has somewhat timed the arrivals right so that passengers can connect to major destinations upon arrival with an 8pm departure from DEL.

I wish there were non-stops between Europe and AMD.
AI used to fly EWR-FRA-AMD, but recently stopped when they started non-stop EWR-BOM. A European carrier would fit the bill, BA especially because of the large diaspora in the UK.

However, India is pretty protective of their home airlines, or at least that's what I gauge from the following article. It was published yesterday incidentally noting that foreign carriers want more seats to India, worth a read for travelers to/from India:
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report...-seats_1499194

Any thoughts? Any future prospects?

if that happens, all my hopes to be a *A Elite will be dashed considering i am 9wGold already.

Given the large number of complaints about poor award availability on both 9W and DL, a pairing of these two airlines through SkyTeam would make sense.